10 Ways to Protect Your Deck from Bad Weather

1. 10 Ways to Protect Your Deck from Bad Weather Your wood deck endures a lot of abuse and foot traffic. It is constantly exposed to rain and sunlight, and it is highly vulnerable to the changing weather conditions due to the lack of protection outdoors. When it rains or when the snow melts, moisture could remain and allow fungal spores and pollen to thrive and cause discoloration. Moreover, lack of regular maintenance and proper care can make your wooden deck deteriorate fast. However, there are methods that ensure proper deck weather protection in the long run. Here are 10 of them: 1. Avoid trapping dirt – If you are keep flower planters, prop them up on cement blocks so moisture and dirt will not get trapped on the surface of the deck. 2. Sweep regularly – Sweeping on a regular basis is a good deck weather protection measure to prevent leaves and dirt from accumulating on the surface. If left alone, those things could stain your deck. 3. Remove snow from your deck – If it snowed overnight, get rid of it as soon as you can to prevent moisture buildup. 4. Seal and clean as often as you can – Get in touch with a professional deck cleaner and have the area sealed around every two to three years to ensure utmost protection from the sun and rain. You can also do it yourself. 5. Apply a protective coating on the wood – Find an EPA-registered wood preservative designed for deck weather protection. It should prevent powder post beetles, mold, and termites from thriving and spreading on the wood, and it should repel water effectively to prevent moisture buildup and water stains. Just make sure it provides a sheer coat that is easy to apply and will never peel or crack in the long run. 6. Protect it from grease – Do you grill on your deck? Make sure there is a way to catch grease, as staining can become hard to remove down the line. 7. Keep it sealed – Even if you used pressure treated wood, make sure that it is properly sealed. Otherwise, it can remain porous, which makes it more vulnerable to bad weather. 8. Avoid solid stains or paint – These finishes will eventually peel, so you will need to reapply them every now and then. Go for oil-based stains for effective deck weather protection. 9. Do not put off repairs – Do them immediately. Replace any rotting boards, call for termite treatment as soon as you see the signs, etc. 10. Choose the right coat for the deck - Some products can seep deeper into the wood cell structure for all- around protection, prevent rotting, and control splitting and cracking.